Rolling mill transfer



March 29, 1960 E. T. PETERSON 2,930,472

ROLLING MILL TRANSFER Filed oct. 1s, 195e s sheets-sneer 1 March 29, 1960 E. T. PETERSON ROLLING MILL TRANSFER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 13, 1958 Illia.: .E kul.'

INVENTOR [0W/447@ 7" fof/5F50# March 29, 1960 E. T. PETERSON ROLLING MILL TRANSFER 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 13. 1958 RGLLING MILL Edward T. Peterson, Reading, Pa., assignor to-Birfdsboro Steel Foundry and Machine Company, Birdshorp, Pat, a corporation'of Delaware Appiication October 13, 1958, Serial No. 766,820?.

Claims. (Cl. 1 98-24) The present invention relates to transfers forrolling mills and particularly to transfer tables which' receive the work from one rolling mill pass and carry it"across the table and return it to the next rolling mill-pass;

The present application is a continuation-in-partof my copending application, Serial No. 479,927, now` UJS Patent 2,878,918, filed January 5, 1955, for Rolling; Mill Transfer. n Y

A purpose of the invention is to transfer the work from one rolling mill pass to another by-a singletable, with a minimum of required length of travel of the work.

A further purpose is to transfer the bar from'one roll' stand to another Without causing the work to rotatel on `the transfer before it enters the bar turner, so that the'` bar can be returned to the next pass and willV enter withf out diiculty into mill guidesy or into a bar turner as the case may be.

A further purpose is to minimize wear on the transfer table rollers at the guards.

A further purpose is tov eliminate theneed for skew rollers `and for chain transfers.

A further purpose is to make the side guard sweep from a diagonal position in which it receives the incom# ing wo-rk from one roll stand to a longitudinal position at which it delivers the Work to the next roll stand, de

vsirably accomplishing the sweeping' action byv pivoting the side guard at the end remote from the active end;

A further purpose is to carry the side guard across the rolling mill table by two lever means connected to the side guard at different positions along the length of the side guard, the lever means connected to the side guard nearer to the active end having a greater-throw'than the lever means connected to the side guard more remote from the active end.

A further purpose is to extend rails across the table and to provide rollers running on the rails which'are connected to the side guard.

A further purpose is to actuate the side guard by crank means, opposed first connecting rods pivotally connectedA to the crank means, bell cranks each pivotally connected at one end to the opposite end of one of the connecting rods, with the bell cranks pivoting intermediate their ends, second connecting rods each pivotally connected at one end to the opposite end of one of the bell cranks and pivotally connected at the other end to the side guard at different positions along the length of the side guard, the throw of the bell crank connected to the side guard nearer the active end being greater than the throw of the bell crankj connectedV to the side guard more remote from the active end.

Further purposes appear in the specicationandin the claims.

In the drawings l have chosen toillustrate` a few'onlyY of the numerous embodiments in-:whichniyinventiony may appear, selecting the formsshownl Vfrom thev standpoints of convenience in illustration, satisfactory opera-` tion and clear demonstration ofthe principles involved.

Figure 1 is a fragmentary top plan view showingfa;

transfer' inaccordancey withthe-invention, and illustrating also Y cooperating roll stands.

Figurez-is a fragmentaryv section of vl'iigu-re 1 on the line- 2 2'. l p

Figure 3 isa fragmentarvftop plan view showing a variation inthe transfer of i the invention.

Figure 4 is a section onv the line 4 4 of Figure 3 to enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a further enlarged-fragmentary section on line 5-51 of-l Figure 3: K l

Describingjin[illustration but! not in limitation and referring to the,` drawings:

In many rolling mill arrangements, the bar or the like which passes throughhone roll stand, and is referred to generallyA herein as the work, is received on a transfer andcarriekdilaterally to a position in line with the next roll-stand, and-then carried, usually in the reverse direc-V from a run-out table of the previous roll stand to a run-in n table connecting with thefsucceeding roll stand. A device of this character-is quite-expensive because it necessitates two complete mill tables, as well as a complicated chain transfer mechanism. f

Efforts have been made to accomplish the transfer by a single table, and for this purpose a skew table has been developed as illustrated in Morgan U.S. Patent 2,370,984. In this'character` of table the skewed angle of the rollers causesthe work to travel from the line of discharge of the previous mill tothe `line of entrytothe following mill stand as thev barv approaches the succeeding mill stand; Y One disadvantage lof the skew table is that the work musty travel av considerablel distance in order to move laterallyvlover a suicient space to transfer from onerollrstand to the next. v

An even moreserious d iiculty isV that even after the work has been transferredtoa position against the side guard in'rliner with the next mill stand, the skew Vaction Vwear on the table rollers at the .side guard, but also makes t it difficult to align the work at a particular angular posi-y Y tion on its longitudinal axis so that it can enter the mill guides or the bar turner for the next pass.

I have discovered that this difficulty can largely be overcome, while still retaining the advantage of using a single table rather than requiring two tables and a chain transfer. In accordance with the invention, the Work travels on astraight transfer table, but one end is deflected and then the workv is transferred` laterally by the sweep or swinging action ofa side guard. First the Work running'outr of the previous ro-ll stand is deected bythe sweep side guard` to theV lineof the next succeeding roll stand at the forward moving end of the bar. Then the end of the, work which last left the previous roll stand,

is transferred bythe sweepingaction to the positionfor approach to thesuceeding roll stand. No skew action is required, and therefore the difficultiesv through turning the` bar and throughrwear incidentto` skew rollers are yConsidering the `drawings in detail, the work vleaves .I

previous roll stand Z0'along -ay center line 21 and enters transfer table 22vat inlet area 22 to encounterside guard Zwhichextends diagonally across the path of the Work asfshown in Figured and. deects the workprogressively towardztheaccnter line 240i the next roll stand 25fas the workmovesiorward.

The transfer; desirably includes azset of table` rollers 26 which aretsuitablyarranged' with the .axes generally in the 3 same horizontal plane and which individually extend transverse to the mill roll pass center lines.

The respective table rollers 26 are mounted on suitable bearings, not shown, and are driven in reversible direction as by shaft 27 extending longitudinally along one side of the transfer, driven by motor 28, speed reducer 30 and gear box 31. The shaft is made up of several shaft units journalled on bearings 32 and joined by couplings 33. Any suitable gearing connects the rollers with the shaft, here shown as a bevelled gear 34 on the shaft at each roller position and a cooperating bevel gear 35 on the end of the roller within a gear box 36.

The table rollers are separated bysapron-horizontal plates 37 which assist in defining the surfaceof the table.

The table at the active end has in line with the retracted side guard 23 a stationary inlet guiding side guard 33 which like the side guard 23 extends diagonally suitably at an angle of less than 30 to the center line of the mill roll stands. The diagonal position of the side guard 2.3 makes it unnecessary to have the table rollers of as great length at positions remote from the active end, and the table rollers diminish until at position 40 a uniform narrow table shape is reached which is defined at the inlet side by a fixed longitudinally extending side guard 41.

At the outgoing side the table is provided with a fixed longitudinally extending side guard 42, and atthe outlet area 222 has a deflector plate 43 pivoted -at 44 and adjusted by an adjustable fastening 45 to provide the correct angle for entrance into a bar turner 46 of the character of that shown in Peterson U.S. Patent 2,632,346, granted March 24, 1953, for Bar Turning Device, which is positioned in line with the next roll stand 25. It will be evident that the deflector plate and the bar turner will move to approach the mill rolls from the correct position.

The action of the side guard 23 in sweeping across the transfer table may be accomplished by any suitable mechanism. In the form shown, the side guard 23 at the inactive end is pivoted on a vertical pivot 47 and at a position between its ends it pivotally connects at 48 with a connecting rod 50 pivotally mounted at 51 on a crank 52 which extends from a turn-table S3 on a vertical axis driven by a gear box 54 which in turn is driven by an electric motor 55.

In operation the work enters the transfer from roll stand 20 at the left in inlet area 22 in Figure 1 while the table rolls are turning to place the work on the transfer and is deflected diagonally along the sweep side guard 23 until the forward end reaches a position substantially in line with the next roll pass 25. When the work is all on the transfer, the operator operates the driving mechanism to cause the sweep side guard 23 to sweep across to the dot-and-dash position shown in Figure l, thus lining up the work with the roll stand 25. The transfer table rollers which were previously rotated to withdraw the work from roll stand 20 are now reversed and the work is carried into bar turner 46 or directly into the guides of the roll stand 25. One of the advantages of the invention is that the work rests quietly on the transfer and does not have any substantial tendency to rotate so that the work can easily be brought into proper relation with the bar turner on the mill guides, and if it is not in the proper relation, the relation can readily be adjusted by the operator without having the position change due to the effect of skew rollers.

The device is relatively inexpensive to construct compared with previous equipment, and is reliable and effective in service.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, it will be evident that the form there shown is preferable for larger installations, while the form of Figures 1 and 2 is preferred in smaller structures. The form of Figures 3, 4 and 5 provides support for the side guard at intervals along its length, in cases where a pivot at the end and a crank would not be adequate to support the entire sweeping side guard. In the form of Figures 3, 4 and 5, no

actual pivot is required, and in fact the side guard may swing around a vertical pivot, the side guard itself not being long enough to extend to such theoretical pivot.

In the form of Figures 3, 4 and 5 two lever mechanisms, suitably bell cranks and connecting rods, synchronize together, and having different throws produce the desired swinging motion of the side guard, and permit support of the side guard on rollers which ride supporting rails.

Since the theoretical pivot in the form of Figures 3, 4 and 5 is beyond the end of the actual side guard, the effective length of the side guard is actually longer than its actual physical length.

In Figures 3, 4 and 5 rails 56 and 56 extend suitably in pairs in the direction of the table rollers at spaced positions between table rollers. The rails are conveniently extended straight rather than making them arcuate to conform to the swinging arc. Slots 57 are provided through the apron plates above the rails. Flange wheels 58, suitably in two pairs ride the rails and are keyed to axles 60 which are journalled in trucks 61 which rotatably mount the axles. Each truck is centrally located and upstanding between the ends is pintle 62 which extends up through the slot 57 in the apron plates and is journalled at 63 in a bracket 64 which is fastened to the side guard and supports the side guard. One of the trucks supports the side guard near its active end and the other near the opposite end.

In the form of Figures 3, 4 and 5 each of the side guards has mounted thereon a pivot bracket 65 which mounts a pivot end 66 which pivotally connects to a connecting rod 67 or 67' which at its opposite end pivotally connects at 68 to an arm 70 or 70' of a bell crank 71 or 71 which is pivoted intermediate its ends on a fixed vertical pivot 72.

The opposite ends 73 of the bell cranks are oppositely disposed and pivotally connected at 74 with connecting rods 75 and 75', both of which at a common point pivotally connect at 76 with the crank on crank arm 52 mounted on the turn-table 53 just described.

It will be noted that while bell crank arms 73 are suitably equal, bell crank arm 70 and connecting rod 67 which are located near the active end are relatively long and bell crank arm 70 and connecting rod 67 located remote from the active end are relatively short so that a swing motion is obtained.

In operation, when the work moving along the center line 21 from the preceding roll stand enters the inlet area 21' from the transfer of Figures 3, 4 and 5, it encounters the side guard and preferably encounters one of the wedge deector plates 77 which successively protrude from the side guard more at the rearward end than at the forward end as the work enters. The forward end of the work is progressively deected across to the opposite side of the table as it advances.

When the work has fully entered the transfer and completely left the preceding roller stand, motor 55 is actuated which swings turn-table 53 and crank 52 and manipulates connecting rod 75 and 75' and bell cranks 71 and 71 and connecting rods 67 and 67 so as to cause a sweeping motion of the side guard 23 across the transfer to a position adjoining the outlet area 222.

The table rollers which formerly were operated to bring the work on to the transfer are now reversed and will carry the work into the succeeding roller stand along the center line 24.

In view of my invention and disclosure, variations and modifications to meet individual whim or particular need will doubtless become evident to others skilled in the art, to obtain all or part of the benefits of my invention without copying the structure shown, and I, therefore, claim all such insofar as they fall within the reasonable spirit and scope of my claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In a rolling mill transfer, a transfer table having a set r,of table rollers arranged in spaced parallel relationship and extending across from one side to the other of the table, reversible means for driving the table rollers, the table at its active end having an inlet area at one side and an outlet area at the other side, a side guard having one position diagonally disposed with respect to the table rollers, at which one position the active end of the side guard is located adjacent ythe inlet area, lthe forward end Iof the work striking the side guard in this position and being deflected toward the opposite side of the table, the side guard being rotatable across the table rollers to a position adjacent the outlet area at the opposite side, l means Ifor rotating the side guard across the table from a Y position adjoining the inlet area to a position adjoining the outlet area, comprising crank means, opposed vIirst connecting rods pivotally connected to the'crank means, bell cranks each pivotally connected at one end of the opposite end of one of the connecting rods, the bell cranks being pivoted intermediate their ends, and second connecting rods each pivotally connected at one end of one of the bell cranks and pivotally connected at the other end to Athe side guard at different positions along the length of the side guard, the throw of the bell crank and the second connecting rod connected to the side guard nearer the active end being greater than the throw of the bell crank and the second connecting rod connected to the side guard more remote from the active end, the throw of the bell crank connected to the side guard nearer the active end and the throw of the bell crank connected to the side guard more remote from the active end rotating the side guard about a vertical axis and transversely across the transfer table.

2. A transfer of claim l, in which said means for rotating the side guard comprises rails extending across the table and rollers connected to the side guard running on the rails.

3. A transfer of claim 2, in which said means for rotating the side guard comprises trucks supporting the connected to the side guards.

rollers on the rails and pintles on the trucks pivotallyU 4. -In a rolling mill transfer, a transfer table having a set of table rollers arranged in spaced parallel relationship and extending across -from one side to the other of the table, reversible means for driving'the table rollers, the table at its active end having an inlet area at one side and an outlet area at the other side, a side guard having one position diagonally disposed with respectv to the table rollers, at whichin one position the active end of the side guard is located adjacent the inlet area, the forward end of the work striking the side guard in thisV position and being deected toward the opposite side of the table, the side guard being rotatable across the table rollers to a position adjacent the outlet area atrthe opposite side, meansfor rotating the side guard across the table from a position adjoining the outlet area to a posil tion adjoining the inlet area, said means comprising two lever means connected to the side guard at different posi-A guard.

References Cited in theY le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,597,557 Tyms et a1 c Aug. 24, 1926 2,601,914 Davies Iuly'l, 1952v 2,878,918 Peterson Mar. 24. 1959 

